- Andrés Schlageter, administrator of the training area 'Animal Production and Welfare' at CIHEAM Zaragoza, addresses in this article the growing challenges that climate change poses to livestock production.
- The article highlights some of the most important strategies that are being implemented to enhance the resilience of livestock production systems.
Introduction
Climate change is placing increasing pressure on livestock production systems. Prolonged drought events reduce water availability, limit drinking water resources, degrade rangelands and pastures, and reduce the production of irrigated crops such as cereals and legumes. These crops and their by-products form the basis of animal feeding systems, and their limited availability can lead to increased feeding costs due to reliance on imported feeds. Rising temperatures further exacerbate these challenges by increasing the risk of heat stress in animals, resulting in lower productivity in most livestock species. Additionally, warmer climatic conditions favour the proliferation of disease vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, facilitating the spread of vector-borne diseases including bluetongue, Rift Valley fever, and tick-borne infections. These diseases are becoming more severe and are occurring at greater frequency across southern Europe and North Africa, particularly in Spain, Italy, Greece, and neighbouring regions.
In response to the growing challenges posed by climate change, multiple strategies are being implemented to enhance the resilience of livestock production systems. Currently there are three main strategies to deal with issues related to climate change: a) genetic selection of climate-resilient breeds; b) adoption of farm technologies that improve water-use efficiency and mitigate heat stress, and c) establishment of cooperative networks to monitor and control emerging livestock diseases. Together, these measures contribute to strengthening the sustainability and adaptive capacity of livestock production in climate-vulnerable regions.
Genetic selection to cope with climate change effects
Genetic improvement offers a promising way to help livestock deal with heat stress and limited water availability in the Mediterranean. By selecting local breeds with inherent heat tolerance, efficient water use and robust performance under stress, farmers can gradually build herds better suited to Mediterranean conditions. Most research on this topic includes the detection of biological markers and identification of genes that help animals adapt to harsh climatic conditions. In the Mediterranean region, several research projects are focusing on local breeds resistant to heat stress and water scarcity. Some examples include Sarda sheep (an Italian dairy breed), Avileña cattle (Spanish beef breed), Barbarine (Tunisian meat breed) and Rasa Aragonesa sheep (Spanish meat breed), and Italian Duroc (Italian pig breed). Genetic selection offers a cheap and effective method to cope with effect of climate change in livestock production, however most genetic programmes are still at an early stage and implementing breeding programmes for animals resistant to heat and water scarcity stress requires further research.
Farm technology as a solution to deal with water scarcity and heat stress
Farm technologies offer effective solutions to manage water scarcity and heat stress in livestock production by optimising resource use and improving animal welfare under changing climatic conditions. Precision livestock farming (PLF) systems, which rely on sensors and tracking devices, allow farmers to monitor water quality and consumption in real-time, detect issues early, and adjust supply to minimise waste. To mitigate heat stress, technologies such as evaporative cooling systems (mist, fogging, sprinklers) combined with fans or precision air supply help lower barn temperatures or directly cool animals, while wearable sensors and infrared thermography monitor body temperature, respiration, and behaviour to identify heat stress for targeted intervention. Additional measures such as shade provision with reflective roofing or trees and water-based cooling systems further reduce animals’ heat stress. By integrating these tools, farmers can make data-driven decisions that enhance productivity, animal health, and sustainability. However, the high cost of implementing such technologies is still a significant barrier for many livestock operations.
Cooperation to reduce the spread of vector-borne diseases
Vector-borne diseases are infections transmitted to humans and animals by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. Epidemiological surveillance—the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of disease data—is essential for planning, implementing, and evaluating effective public health interventions. Due to similar climatic conditions, Mediterranean countries face comparable challenges in managing these diseases, making communication and cooperation crucial.
In 2009, ten Mediterranean countries established the Mediterranean Animal Health Network (REMESA) to provide a framework for collaboration, coordinate regional animal health projects, and harmonise surveillance efforts. REMESA serves as a central interface for organising human, material, and financial resources, as well as institutional partnerships, and strives to strengthen cooperation to achieve the network’s objectives despite limited resources. CIHEAM Zaragoza is now an active partner of REMESA network and is currently organising several activities to promote the network’s initiatives within member countries.
CIHEAM Zaragoza is the leader for dissemination and capacity-building activities within the Horizon Europe project Re-Livestock. The project aims to understand and promote the adoption of innovative practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming while enhancing the sector’s capacity to cope with climate change impacts. As part of this mission, CIHEAM Zaragoza organises courses, webinars, and other initiatives to share the knowledge generated by the project.
In the framework of this project, on 2nd June, CIHEAM Zaragoza will host the workshop ‘Adaptation to Climate Change in Agricultural Practices and Livestock Production’. It will feature researchers from Mediterranean countries and aims to present and exchange knowledge on key challenges, as well as examples of research, innovation, and development approaches to address them. The event will also facilitate dialogue between invited CIHEAM experts and the REMEDIA network.